Provider Forum

1. 25 March 2012
Ref: 013/12
IT IS TIME TO UNITE AND ESTABLISH A CREDIBLE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PROVIDERS!
Dear Provider,
South Africa’s private providers have a wealth of knowledge and experience in small pockets and
collectively we can make a great contribution towards delivering reliable quality training and
assessment. Private providers must stand together as a professional association, representing a
collective that is technically equipped to navigate the trajectory of compliance with regulations,
while prioritising improvements, and elevating the industry's professional status. A coherent and
representative professional association is long overdue.
Legitimate and professional representation is long overdue!
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Assessment Practice (CIMAP) is committed to
taking the lead in the process of professionalization of the sector. Stakeholders established CIMAP
during 2011 and practitioners, including providers, assessors and moderators now have a platform
to articulate collective needs in a democratic structure.
SAQA confirms that as a professional body or a professional association involved in the education
and training environment, must apply to SAQA for recognition. In the event that a professional body
that does not want to be recognised, their involvement in formal education and learning
environment will be limited (SAQA; Professional Body Road Shows, 2011). We must take
accountability for our own destiny, and not sit idly by hoping that consultants and regulators will
enforce our needs and expectations. We will therefore ensure that CIMAP is registered with SAQA as
soon as applications are accepted.
Our landscape has seen many changes and challenges and we therefore unite to address these. Our
immediate priorities are:
 Providing professional membership for practitioners and stakeholders, including assessors,
moderators, and accredited providers (corporate membership). (Accredited providers will
be eligible to join CIMAP if they have proof of registration, or that the registration process
has been initiated with the Department of Higher Education.)
 Constructively addressing the challenges facing private providers operating within the SETA
environment. These challenges include protracted payment complications, securing
programme approval and external moderation dates from ETQAs, ineffective
Chartered Institute for the Management of Assessment Practice (CIMAP)
Ground Floor, 16 Republic Road, Bordeaux, Randburg, 2125. Tel: (011) 329-9000 – extension: 9034, Fax: 086 218 4466,
Web site: www.cimap.co.za, e-mail: membership@cimap.co.za
Board Members: Ms. D. Damons (M.Sc.) – Chairperson; Prof. M. Mehl, Vice-Chairperson,
Prof. W. Goosen, Dr. W. Guest-Mouton, Dr. K. Deller, Dr. L. Meyer, Dr. M. Serfontein, R.Pillay (M.Ed.), T. Tshabalala,
A. Roode B.Com. (Hons.), & A. Ismail. © 2012

2. communication channels etc. The imperative need to strengthen the formal relationships
with the regulators, industry professional bodies, and collective and representative bodies
must be lobbied immediately.
 The urgent review and representation to address inconsistent ETQA standards of
applications, including programme approval, external moderation (verification) activities,
the registration of SDF’s, constituent assessors and moderators etc. A transparent set of
regulations for internal and external moderation processes is long overdue. Providers and
above all learners are often prejudiced by bureaucratic, inconsistent, and unreliable service
standards. Assessments and moderation standards of practice must be consistently applied
at a national level.
 The varying interpretations on the meaning and construction of skills programmes; agreeing
on common set of criteria and definitions for deliverables such as skills programmes, part
and full qualifications etc.
 The discrepancies amongst quality systems between ETQAs;
 Preparing a well organised and consolidated constructive feedback report on the current
defects in the Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training; 2012 and the current
vacuum created in terms of the QCTO with the promulgation of the National Qualifications
Framework Act 67, 2008. Future constructive feedback and timely input on green papers
and policy directives relevant to education and skills development.
 Fostering closer working relationships with the ETQAs and defining clearer role definitions
resulting into improved delivery quality.
 Providing a professional platform to resolve disputes between members, and offering a peer
review system to intervene in third party disputes.
 The implementation of a fair and transparent dispute resolution procedure for the
enforcement of a professional code of conduct and ethics.
CIMAP is operational and we aim to make a significant impact on the professionalization of the
sector. CIMAP aims to offer a home to all stakeholders and practitioners, and we therefore aim to
offer an affordable and inclusive membership base to allow all providers an opportunity to join and
participate as active members for our collective sustainability!
Please send all enquiries or needs to me at wilmas@lantic.net or admin@cimap.co.za. We
encourage the active participation of members, and welcome your commitment to become
involved in your specific areas of interest.
Regards
Dr. Wilma Guest-Mouton
Convener: CIMAP Provider Forum
Chartered Institute for the Management of Assessment Practice (CIMAP)
Ground Floor, 16 Republic Road, Bordeaux, Randburg, 2125. Tel: (011) 329-9000 – extension: 9034, Fax: 086 218 4466,
Web site: www.cimap.co.za, e-mail: membership@cimap.co.za
Board Members: Ms. D. Damons (M.Sc.) – Chairperson; Prof. M. Mehl, Vice-Chairperson,
Prof. W. Goosen, Dr. W. Guest-Mouton, Dr. K. Deller, Dr. L. Meyer, Dr. M. Serfontein, R.Pillay (M.Ed.), T. Tshabalala,
A. Roode B.Com. (Hons.), & A. Ismail. © 2012